Chapter 15

Thinking of the two knives in Zhao Zhenxing's room and the hints revealed in the elders' conversations, Zhao Jin did not continue to ask but instead flatteringly said, "Uncle, aren't you the best in Xuzhou?"

Flattery never fails, and Zhao Zhenxing couldn't help but smile, but he still shook his head and said, "What first? Saying that would make people laugh. These military drills, if you practice them diligently and fight on the battlefield, you naturally become proficient. If we talk about rankings, there are countless people in and around Xuzhou City, in the three guard posts, who are stronger than your uncle. Don't be lazy, stand firm in your horse stance!"

Zhao Jin quickly straightened his body. He could tell that Zhao Zhenxing wasn't being modest just now. There were always stronger people, and this Xuzhou City was truly remarkable.

After the interlude of the martial arts demonstration, practicing martial arts became boring and monotonous again. As lunchtime approached, He Cuihua came to pick them up and greeted Zhao Zhenxing, saying that they would eat lunch and dinner at home, and she would pick up and drop off Zhao Jin and Mu Shulan.

Lunch was excellent. Zhao Zhentang grumbled, "Without me doing that job, how could you eat so well?" According to Zhao Jin's impression, many families lived far worse than theirs, with many eating only two meals a day, let alone having meat every meal. It seemed that the various incomes from being a constable and an executioner were indeed substantial.

What Zhao Jin found a bit strange was that Zhao Zhentang brought back a package of milk pastries for lunch. Since Mu Shulan was eating with them, he naturally offered her some, but to his surprise, the little girl stared at the package for a long time and then refused, saying, "We're not allowed to eat it at home."

Zhao Jin also noticed the three elders exchanging glances and showing understanding expressions. Zhao Jin couldn't figure it out himself, only feeling that it was strange that they weren't allowed to eat onions or dairy products at home. How could there be any girl who didn't like sweet pastries?

A monotonous and regular life always passes quickly. Early morning jogging, practicing martial arts all day, then resting, and before he knew it, five days had passed.

During these five days, Zhao Zhenxing did not continue to demonstrate his martial arts skills. Every day, they still practiced the monotonous horse stance and strength training.

Although he had only practiced for less than ten days, Zhao Jin could feel the changes in his body. His endurance was getting stronger, and his spirit was becoming more vigorous.

By the eighth day of practice, Zhao Jin could use the lightest stone lock to train his strength. After lifting it twenty times, his arms weren't as sore.

After lunch at home, Zhao Zhenxing took the two children back. After walking through two streets, they found Chen Sheng and his brother standing at a corner. As soon as he saw Zhao Jin, Chen Sheng immediately walked over and loudly said, "Zhao Jin, your method doesn't work..."

He stopped halfway, seeing Zhao Zhenxing standing nearby, and quickly shrank back, not daring to continue. Zhao Zhenxing knew that the children felt uncomfortable with an adult around, so he smiled and told Zhao Jin, "Go back early this afternoon to practice martial arts," and left.

"Your method doesn't work. They won a fight, ate my food, but didn't fight seriously with me. They just fell down as soon as we started. What a waste of such good pastries?" Chen Sheng complained with a frown.

Chen Hong nodded vigorously beside him. Chen Sheng continued, "Your method doesn't work. Think of another one for me!"

"Wasn't it useful at the beginning?" Zhao Jin suddenly asked. Chen Sheng was taken aback, subconsciously nodded, and then said, "But it doesn't work now. You have to come up with a plan, or you have to give me back those pastries."

Mu Shulan, standing nearby, used her finger to scrape her face and kept saying, "Cheater, cheater, so embarrassing."

Even Chen Hong blushed and stepped back. Zhao Jin found it interesting. He certainly wouldn't panic and said, "I'll go with you to see why they don't fight with you."

Every morning, he left home and returned from Uncle's house in the evening. After so many days of this routine, practicing the same boring exercises every day, Zhao Jin was quite frustrated. It would be good to go to the cargo yard full of children to relax.

On the way, Zhao Jin understood why the method didn't work. At first, when Chen Sheng went there and announced the rule, many children were willing to fight. They thought they might not beat Chen Sheng, but they could beat others. If they won, they would get something to eat, and it was a kind of fine pastry they rarely got to eat. Many children rushed over at the time.

However, after the initial enthusiasm, they found that Chen Sheng's pastries were too few, and only a few could get them. Even if they won, they would still be beaten badly by Chen Sheng. The hope of getting something to eat was slim, so many children lost interest.

Moreover, those few who could win, after being beaten by Chen Sheng, simply lay down and pretended to lose, making Chen Sheng feel helpless. Every day, he couldn't eat the pastries himself and couldn't find anyone to fight with. Chen Sheng was getting anxious, which is why he came to Zhao Jin today.

Hearing this, Zhao Jin was surprised. At the time, he thought many children didn't fight with Chen Sheng because there was no benefit. He thought if more people fought with Chen Sheng, Chen Sheng wouldn't be invincible. He didn't expect Chen Sheng to be so strong.

Actually, the cargo yard wasn't far from where Zhao Jin and the others were. They arrived soon. The cargo yard seemed to have been abandoned, with no one managing it, and it had become a playground for children.

When someone saw Chen Sheng coming, they called out, and a group of children quickly gathered, excitedly asking, "Are we fighting today? What pastries do you have today?"

Seeing so many people rush over, the little girl immediately hid behind Zhao Jin, and Chen Hong also clung to his brother's hand.

"What fight? You always trick me!" Chen Sheng said irritably.

Hearing this, the children were deflated but still wouldn't give up, surrounding Chen Sheng and saying, "Come on, let's fight! We're all waiting to fight with you!"

Chen Sheng waved his wooden sword in front of him, shooing them away, but the children wouldn't disperse, grinning and surrounding him.

Standing next to Chen Sheng, Zhao Jin frowned, realizing something was wrong. The children surrounding them were older, about two or three years older than Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng, and they looked rough. These dozen or so children kept exchanging glances, while the other children in the distance either looked disgusted or afraid, avoiding them.

"If you don't fight today, no one will fight with you every day!" a dark-skinned boy said, his tone already threatening. Zhao Jin immediately understood that these rough children were a gang, wanting to monopolize Chen Sheng's pastries. They would fake fights and cheat Chen Sheng to get a few pastries.

At this moment, Zhao Jin remembered that this dark, sturdy boy was named Liu Yong, the leader of the children from the South Gate.

"I won't fight, I won't fight," Chen Sheng said, his eyes wide.

These surrounding children still feared Chen Sheng a bit and didn't dare to press further. However, a short boy next to the dark-skinned boy, about the same age as Chen Sheng but as short as Chen Hong, even shorter than Mu Shulan, pointed at Zhao Jin and laughed, "Look, Zhao Girl found a little wife."

"Zhao Girl" was Zhao Jin's former nickname. A quiet, shy boy who always followed his parents was called this by the children.

Zhao Jin didn't say anything, but when Mu Shulan heard "little wife," she spat and hid behind Zhao Jin, her face turning red.

The children burst into laughter. The dark-skinned boy, Liu Yong, walked up to Zhao Jin and said arrogantly, "What's good about a fake girl? Be my wife!"

The children around them became even more excited, and someone shouted, "Brother Yong, let's get married today!"

Liu Yong laughed and said, "Sure, come on, wife!"

As he reached out to grab Mu Shulan, his hand was slapped away. The dark-skinned boy was stunned; he didn't expect Zhao Jin to dare to slap his hand.

Liu Yong was half a head taller than Zhao Jin and very strong, with a dozen or so followers behind him. Zhao Jin was usually timid and cowardly, and Liu Yong didn't take him seriously. When Zhao Jin acted, Liu Yong and his followers were also stunned. Before Liu Yong could speak, Zhao Jin coldly said, "Get lost!"

The scene fell silent again, and even the children and teenagers who had stayed away noticed the unusual situation and looked over.